ScienceFilmhttp://sciencefilm.org/blog
A blog about Modern Communication for Modern ScienceFri, 27 Feb 2015 15:18:44 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Beautiful, informative, and educational!http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=397
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=397#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 15:18:44 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=397We’ve posted several links to great animations about science before, but here are some particularly excellent examples of the marriage of narrative, beauty, and science history. The paper cutout animation by Flora Lichtman and Sharon Shattuck continues to inspire.

Check out these great films:

]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3970Great video series from the American Museum of Natural Historyhttp://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=394
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=394#commentsFri, 16 Jan 2015 14:59:03 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=394Science video has come a long way in the last few years. Here are some great examples of well-filmed, slickly produced, entertaining, and informative videos from the American Museum of Natural History, in their series Shelf Life

I particularly like this Coelocanth video:

Enjoy!

]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3940How to use your GoPro effectivelyhttp://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=391
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=391#commentsFri, 05 Dec 2014 03:07:05 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=391GoPro cameras are ubiquitous, for good reason. In Science Filmmaking, they can get you into small spaces that are essential for supporting your narrative, and capture action in a hands-free way. Here is a great summary from B&H about creative ways to use your GoPro:

For an example of a Sciencey video filmed using a GoPro, here is something put together during a class experiment about kelp biomechanics. It’s a bit older now, but shows some neat angles.

]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3910Aerial Videography with Drones: A Primerhttp://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=389
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=389#commentsFri, 05 Dec 2014 02:58:54 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=389The landscape of aerial videography is changing so quickly! What was possible only with very expensive helicopter time is now a snap with a little investment and some practice. If you are interested in embarking on a foray into aerial videography with a drone, here is a great primer from B&H to get you started.

I have a DJI Phantom Vision 2+, and it is an incredible piece of equipment. I crashed my Phantom 1 into the ocean (with GoPro and gimbal, a $1500 loss). Mistakes aren’t cheap, but the perspectives are unbeatable.

]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3890Michael Moore’s top 5 suggestions for documentaryhttp://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=386
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=386#commentsMon, 15 Sep 2014 16:50:12 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=386These are good tips! Remember that a science film is just a documentary about science!

]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3860World Science Festival & an amazing library of science videoshttp://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=356
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=356#commentsTue, 20 Mar 2012 02:56:32 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=356If you want some examples of how other people have approached the telling of science stories through film, look no further than the World Science Festival. This is a festival that happens each year, this year in New York City from May 30 – June 3rd. I have no doubt that the festival would be excellent to attend, but you can gain a great deal by watching some of the 300+ videos, mostly science related, in their awesome video library.

There is something here for everyone.

]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3560GoPro releases HD Hero 2!http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=352
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=352#commentsMon, 24 Oct 2011 16:35:46 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=352I love my GoPro HD Hero camera. For versatility/quality/size/value/price you really can’t beat it. Except, GoPro did beat it, by releasing a new version of the camera today. A quick run down of the key new features:

]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3520Paper puppets and beautiful {de}compositionhttp://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=347
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=347#commentsFri, 14 Oct 2011 14:56:42 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=347Sweetfern Productions has produced a wonderful and novel science film about the decomposition of a whale. What? Awesome and inspiring:

]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3470The practice vs theory of science communicationhttp://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=344
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=344#commentsWed, 28 Sep 2011 16:39:48 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=344Here is a compelling blog post by Chris Mooney about the gap between science communication theory and practice. “What does the science of science communication look like?” Read more here
]]>http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3440Make friends with an animator…http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=332
http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=332#commentsWed, 21 Sep 2011 22:11:35 +0000http://sciencefilm.org/blog/?p=332There are many science concepts that are too small, too far away, or too complex to actually film. These topics are still worthy of communication, and video technology is certainly the best way to help people understand. One solution is to use computer animation. I’m not suggesting that you learn how to do animation, but, as the title of this post suggests, make friends (or at least a connection) with animators. There are often student animators looking for good topics to work with. This synergy can no doubt result in some technologically advanced, visually pleasing, and informative short videos.

I was at a bonfire in Squamish a week ago, and we saw the Northen Lights (aka Aurora Borealis). What a magnificent sight. None of us really knew what causes Northern Lights to occur, so some digging around yielded this cool video: a great animation about the science of Auroras.